Sales prolongs County Ground stay

Alec Swann

Northamptonshire batsman David Sales has signed a new one-year contract.

The 35-year-old was out of contract at the end of the recently concluded campaign and there was speculation, some of which was fuelled by the man himself, that his career as a professional cricketer could be over.

But a strong finish to the summer, in which he made 919 first-class runs, led to the club offering to extend the tenure of their longest-serving player.

Speaking about the deal, chief executive David Smith said: “It’s a one-year contract and it will be good to have David’s experience in Division One.

“He played well in the second half of the season and hopefully we’ll see more of that next year.”

With Sales tied up and Maurice Chambers on board, the County’s recruitment will now turn to securing the signatures of left-arm spinner Graeme White and an Australian seamer to fill the overseas slot.